Hydraulic pipework

[Tankbear]

Hi Guys,

After some info regarding car brake pipes and maybe bicycles with hydraulic brake systems.

Thinking of changing some of the plastic hydraulic pipes to rigid pipes on my excavator, but I’m a bit stuck for what I need connector wise at the end of the metal pipes. So if people can help by posting pictures, links or even the name of the item so I can further investigate.

Cheers

Ian.

[jackalope]

First you're going to need to see if anyone makes steel, or plastic, or brass that will work. Inside diameter isn't an issue it's outside diameter you're after. Because to join them you'll need what's known as compression fitting, not sure what they'll be called in the UK. It's basically a brass center with a nut in its center that both tubes will slide into. On both tunes goes a small brass feral (spelling?) that is mashed onto the tube by another brass nut. I'll get you a pic when I get home my phone won't let me do that.

I doubt compression fittings exist as small as you'd need them. Maybe a way around this would be to just feed the flexible hydraulic line through a metal or hard plastic tube to act like a shield so it looks like hard line. May be your best bet.

[Tankbear]

Good idea about the plastic inside the metal.

A lot of the pipe work will be from the control valves to the boom so quite a few bends. At the moment the plastic is tending to form kinks.

[jackalope]

Copper tubing is your best bet! It's easy to bend and shape.

[dane61]

http://www.biltema.dk/da/Bil---MC/Bilre ... 000022799/

to be used with 3/16 copper brake lines, that can be bought by the meters

[RobW]

There is a limit to how tight the bends can be as you collapse the pipe (as you've seen). A decent motot factor or bike shop might be a good starting point.

The connectors use an 'olive' or ferrule (sp?) as part of the compression fitting. Not seen anything smaller than 1/8" (maybe 1/4") though.

[hawkeye3guns]

Hi Ian
Try googling Blackgates model engineers they supply a whole range of minuature pipework and fitting for model steam engines I think the smallist is 1.8" outside diameter they also used to sell a swivell fiting for steam lines allowing the solid pipe to move thro about 120 degrees.
Their location was just off the M62 around the leed/s Bradford Junction, Now? its a while since I last did any steam work.
Denzil